Here's what I did about Chained CPI

I sent an email to the White House. I sent emails to my congresswoman, Betty Mc Collum. I sent emails to Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, my Senators. I also sent emails to all the other 7 House members from my state. I told them that I wanted and expected them to fight against that or any other changes to Social Security that would affect benefits for today's and future seniors.

I didn't call anyone a Republican in Democrat's clothing. I didn't use any words like liar or traitor, or anything of the sort. I made my case against it, and asked for their opposition to it. I've had positive replies from Betty McCollum, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken.

They don't read DU. If I want to send my legislators a message, I send it to them. I don't post it here. Like most people, my time is limited, so I try to put my activism where it has a chance of making a difference.

Now, I do not know what the result will be in the end, but I never do. All I can do is make a case.

It's interesting to discuss things on DU, but I never do so while thinking that our discussions here are activism. They are not. Nobody here plays any role in the Congress, and that's where this will be decided. If you want to be an activist, aim your arguments at those who make a difference. We can discuss them here, but that won't change a thing.

16. You might be surprised. Those Republicans need to hear from

constituents, too, and it's not only Democrats who oppose changes in SS benefits. Your call or email will count. It's never a waste. If there are no communications in opposition, they'll assume there is no opposition. Communicate with your legislators, no matter what their party is. It's important. A petition, no matter how many have signed it, does not have the same impact as a pile of emails or snail mail letters. Legislators have to be elected. Hearing from constituents, on either side, is influential.

8. The senators are the most important

10. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! You're not sitting on a blog or forum, crying, bitching or moaning!

You, unlike many here, are being proactive and doing your civic duty! Everyone should be picking up the phone, typing emails, writing letters, or all three! As someone who worked on the Hill for many years, proaction works! It scares the shit out of our elected officials!!!

22. I agree wholeheartedly!!

11. email body sent to POTUS, my senators and rep:

I have been paying into SS for 40+ years and I do not want to see any cuts to SS benefits including new ways to calculate COLA such as CPI.

Taxes should be raised and the debt owed to the SS Trust Fund should be paid back.

To cut benefits and not raise taxes to pay back the funds borrowed from the SS Trust fund is nothing less than stealing working class peoples' paid for benefits to pay for the tax breaks to the wealthy that have created our deficit.

15. Thank you

17. Phone calls can be very effective

You'll get a busy signal from the White House direct comment line (1-202-456-1111). You'll have better luck going through the switchboard: 1-202-456-1414. Choose option 1 and stay on the line until you get a live volunteer.

23. I have been calling my reps. Sen, and the WhiteHouse

I didn't name call either, just said I think Chained CPI is something I consdier a cut, and mistaken policy, and unfair to seniors.

I sent emails too. I did contact Senator Ried and Minority Leader Pelosi. I did this because they are in leadership positions for the whole party. The only one I haven't contacted is Boner which I plan to do because he is leadership for his party.

I feel strange about calling other Senators or Congress people who don't represent my district or even writing them though, if they are not in leadership positions. In my view that's taking their time away from their constiutents, who deserve to be heard first by their reps.

I don't want to keep calling the same people, over and over, like a broken record, I've already contacted themtwice by the phone, and once through emails. But I am still anxious and frustrated over what I consider a horrible policy so what can I do now that is productive? I'm serious.

25. Thanks for doing that.

It doesn't really work to constantly contact the same people about the same issue. So, there's really no need to do that. Probably the very best thing is to try to get others who agree with you to contact their legislators. That's something we can all do in other venues, like DU, and also through our personal connections. Focus on those you now are on the same side as you are, and ask them to send communications to their legislators. I think that's the very best action to take once you have made your legislators and other leaders aware of your opinion.

It's a numbers game, really. In a few cases, you may actually know your legislators, through campaign or other activities, or through regular communications. In those cases, your communications carry a bit more weight. But beyond that, it's a matter of numbers. For the most part, the legislators, themselves, don't actually read correspondence directed to them. They get far too much of it for that. Aides and staff, however, do read them, and tabulate them, reporting the numbers to the actual legislator.

If you have a relationship with your legislator, your communications may go in the pile for the legislator to read personally. For that, though, the relationship has to go beyond just meeting the legislator once. Campaigning for someone is the very best way to form a relationship, and that's a lot of work.

The only legislator I have an actual relationship with is my congresswoman, Betty McCollum. She knows me through my work with the DFL in my own district, so she recognizes me by sight and name. I'm in her list of people who get correspondence passed along. But she's the only one. I've met my senators a couple of times, but I'm sure they don't know me.

24. Called Boner's office

No I didn't call him Boner on the line but his chosen pronunciation. I even used his title.

Left message that I hope that both he and the President would remove Chained CPI from Fiscal Cliff request as it was a bad idea that hurts seniors and disabled disproportionately and would hurt both Democrats and Republicans alike. Now I am going to try and quit thinking about this for awhile.

31. She said that she is opposed to reductions in benefits for SS recipients.

That's a little wishy-washy, I know. But, Amy Klobuchar is not the most progressive Democrat in the Senate. She keeps being re-elected by walking a line. In almost all cases, though, she votes with the Democratic caucus. I can only remember a couple of issues where she didn't. She's not an activist, by any means, but she's a reliable vote. She'll be in the Senate for a long time. I'm not as strong in my support of her as I am in support of Franken. But, she's a reliable Democratic vote and does a good job for issues that affect Minnesota. She has strong bipartisan support here, mainly because she's very active in helping Minnesotans with issues having to do with the Federal Government. She's a Senator who works directly for her constituents. That's a tried and true method for longevity in the Senate, and she's very good at it. Besides, she's a really nice person, and it's very difficult not to like her as a person.

Betty McCollum said she would not support Chained CPI for Social Security. Al Franken said the same thing, although not as directly. It's all as I expected. Their actual votes will be in line with whatever the Democratic Caucuses decide, frankly. That's why it's so important that everyone communicate with their own legislators.

43. Thank you for doing that.

54. I talked to Sen. Lugar's office and Sen. Coats' office. I emailed the WH. Also left a message for

Senator-elect Donnelly. I made it *very clear this is the wrong way to go. I mentioned 2014. I told them all that if they don't get this right, I will consider running for elective office next go-around.

39. I keep tweeting Obama and sending emails to the White House

40. me too

thanks for the update on phone numbers - I called yesterday & got a recording saying the switchboard closes at 5 pm (it was 4:15 here). I sent an e mail to the white house, I've signed petitions, I called Sen. McCaskill's office. I spoke with an aide. Called back to be sure she recalled the views I presented & spoke with another aide. I've signed more petitions today & I've urged my FB friends to do the same. At least DO something. I will be calling the WH again today.

42. I too have signed petitions

I called the White House, e-mailed the White House, tweeted Pelosi & Reid, have tweeted PBO and called Senator Kohl. No point in calling Johnson and Ribble because they have their heads up the Koch Brother's rear ends.

Trying to do the right thing and trying not to be critical in my messages.

46. k & r! nt

50. Just emailed Klobuchar, Franken and Keith Ellison.

I hope everybody who is concerned about this or any other issue contacts their Congresscritters right away. Just ranting on DU is not especially productive except to blow off steam. Letting the people who can do something know how you think is how things actually get done.

52. Thanks for the emails!

55. I got this response from Amy Klobuchar:

Thank you very much for taking the time to send me your thoughts on the future of Social Security.

Social Security is a fundamental part of our nation's social and economic fabric. For generations, it has been a stable and secure retirement guarantee for all Americans. Social Security is our nation's most successful domestic program, providing an essential safety net and ensuring a decent retirement for Americans who've worked hard their whole lives. It also provides vital support for Americans with disabilities, the surviving spouses and children of deceased workers.

I believe it is important that we take the steps necessary to ensure the future solvency of our Social Security program. Our nation needs to plan ahead and work toward a bipartisan solution to make Social Security more secure for the long term. I am confident that we can responsibly address any projected funding shortfalls and ensure that Social Security remains a vital part of retirement for future generations.

Please know that I will fight against risky schemes that would privatize Social Security and turn it from a guarantee of a secure retirement into a gamble where only the big financial companies on Wall Street would be the sure winners.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me. One of the most important parts of my job is listening to what the people of Minnesota have to say to me. I am here in our nation's capital to do the public's business and to serve the people of our state. I hope you will contact me again about matters of concern to you.